The structural, physical and photocatalytic properties of the mesoporous Cr-doped TiO2

Photocatalytic Degradation of Rhodamine B and Methylene Orange Using TiO2-ZrO2 as Nanocomposite

The present research reports the synthesis of ZrO2-doped TiO2 photocatalysts at different ZrO2 contents (1, 3 and 5% wt.) synthesized by the sol–gel method. The samples were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction, attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared, ultraviolet–visible, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and N2 adsorption–desorption analysis. The photocatalytic activity of the ZrO2-doped TiO2 was investigated against the dyes methyl orange and rhodamine B through mineralization studies. The ZrO2-doped TiO2 samples presented a semiglobular-ovoid agglomerate shape around 500–800 nm. The samples presented high crystallinity of the TiO2 anatase phase, XPS suggested the formation of Zr–O–Ti bonds and the samples were classified as mesoporous materials with slight changes in the optical features in comparison with pure TiO2. Our study shows that the ZrO2-doped TiO2 composites exhibited a higher photocatalytic activity than just utilizing the synthetized TiO2 and a commercial P25. The different degradation behaviors are attributed to differences in the textural properties, and to the different optical absorptions of the samples due to structural defects created by the level of doping of Zr4+ ions into the TiO2 lattice. Reaction kinetics parameters were calculated by the Langmuir–Hinshelwood model, and a third run cycle of the ZrO2-doped TiO2 at 1% wt. achieved a photocatalytic degradation of 78.1 and 75.5% for RhB and MO, respectively.

Bridging experiment and theory: enhancing the electrical conductivities of soft-templated niobium-doped mesoporous titania films

Theoretical calculations suggest a strong dependence of electrical conductivity and doping concentration in transition-metal doped titania. Herein, we present a combined theoretical and experimental approach for the prediction of relative phase stability and electrical conductivity in niobium-doped titania as model system. Our method paves the way towards the development of materials with improved electrical properties.

Marimo-Bead-Supported Core-Shell Nanocomposites of Titanium Nitride and Chromium-Doped Titanium Dioxide as a Highly Efficient Water-Floatable Green Photocatalyst

The release of untreated industrial wastewater creates a hazardous impact on the environment. In this regard, the development of an environmentally friendly catalyst is of paramount importance. Here, we report a highly efficient and reusable core-shell TiN/SiO₂/Cr-TiO₂ (TSCT) photocatalyst that is composed of SiO₂-cladded titanium nitride (TiN) nanoparticles (NPs) decorated with Cr-doped TiO₂ NPs for the removal of organic contaminants from water. The TiN NPs serve as the main light absorber component with excellent visible-light absorption along with Cr-TiO₂ NPs. The TSCT shows remarkable improvement in the photodecomposition of methylene blue (MB) over Cr-TiO₂ and TiO₂ NPs. An efficient structural design is proposed by adopting calcium alginate beads (P-Marimo beads) as a transparent scaffold for supporting our TSCT, which floats nature on the water surface and realizes easy handling as well as excellent reusability for multipurpose water purification. Surprisingly, our TSCT is found to keep its catalytic activity even after the illumination is turned off. Our proposed P-Marimo-encapsulated TSCT can be utilized as an excellent green photocatalyst with high photocatalytic performance, good recyclability, and easy handling.

Synthesis of Cr3+-doped TiO2 nanoparticles: characterization and evaluation of their visible photocatalytic performance and stability

Cr³⁺-doped TiO₂ nanoparticles (Ti-Cr) were synthesized by microwave-assisted sol-gel method. The Ti-Cr catalyst was characterized by X-ray diffraction, ultraviolet-visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, N₂ adsorption-desorption analysis, Raman spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, photoluminescence spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and zetametry. The anatase mesoporous Ti-Cr material exhibited a specific surface area of 54.5 m²/g. XPS analysis confirmed the proper substitution of Ti⁴⁺ cations by Cr³⁺ cations in the TiO₂ matrix. The particle size was of average size of 17 nm for the undoped TiO₂ but only 9.5 nm for Ti-Cr. The Cr atoms promoted the formation of hydroxyl radicals and modified the surface adsorptive properties of TiO₂ due to the increase in surface acidity of the material. The photocatalytic evaluation demonstrated that the Ti-Cr catalyst completely degraded (4-chloro-2-methylphenoxy) acetic acid under visible light irradiation, while undoped TiO₂ and P25 allowed 45.7% and 31.1%, respectively. The rate of degradation remained 52% after three cycles of catalyst reuse. The higher visible light photocatalytic activity of Ti-Cr was attributed to the beneficial effect of Cr³⁺ ions on the TiO₂ surface creating defects within the TiO₂ crystal lattice, which can act as charge-trapping sites, reducing the electron-hole recombination process.

Solar-light-active mesoporous Cr–TiO2 for photodegradation of spent wash: an in-depth study using QTOF LC-MS

A dark coloured effluent called “spent wash” is generated as an unwanted product in sugar based alcohol distillery which is degraded to less toxic compounds using visible light active Cr–TiO₂ photocatalyst under natural sunlight.

Understanding the effects of Cr doping in rutile TiO2 by DFT calculations and X-ray spectroscopy

The effects of Cr on local environment and electronic structure of rutile TiO₂ are studied combining theoretical and experimental approaches. Neutral and negatively charged substitutional Cr impurities Cr_Ti⁰ and Cr_Ti¹⁻ as well as Cr-oxygen vacancy complex 2Cr_Ti + V_O are studied by the density functional theory (DFT) within the generalized gradient approximation (GGA) of Perdew-Burke-Ernzerhof (PBE) functional. Experimental results based on X-Ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) and X-Ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) performed on Cr doped TiO₂ at the Synchrotron facility were compared to the theoretical results. It is shown that the electrons of the oxygen vacancy tend to be localized at the t_2g states of the Cr ions in order to reach the stable oxidation state of Cr³⁺. Effects of Cr on crystal field (CF) and structural distortions in the rutile TiO₂ cell were analyzed by the DFT calculations and XAS spectra revealing that the CF and tetragonal distortions in TiO₂ are very sensitive to the concentration of Cr.

Factors affecting photocatalytic activity of visible light-responsive titanium dioxide doped with chromium ions

Titanium dioxide doped with Cr ions (Cr–TiO₂) was synthesized by a sol–gel method, with only water as the solvent, and dialysis.

Direct growth of Cr-doped TiO2 nanosheet arrays on stainless steel substrates with visible-light photoelectrochemical properties

We report the synthesis of Cr-doped TiO₂ nanosheet arrays grown directly on stainless steel substrates without adding Cr-dopant, which exhibit enhanced photoactivity under visible light.

UV and visible activation of Cr(III)-doped TiO2 catalyst prepared by a microwave-assisted sol-gel method during MCPA degradation

Photocatalytic degradation of 4-chloro-2-methylphenoxyacetic acid (MCPA) in aqueous solution using Cr(III)-doped TiO₂ under UV and visible light was investigated. The semiconductor material was synthesized by a microwave-assisted sol-gel method with Cr(III) doping contents of 0.02, 0.04, and 0.06 wt%. The catalyst was characterized using X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), nitrogen physisorption, UV-Vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS), and atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS). The photocatalytic activity for the photodegradation of MCPA was followed by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and total organic carbon (TOC) analysis. The intermediates formed during degradation were identified using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Chloride ion evolution was measured by ion chromatography. Characterization results showed that Cr(III)-doped TiO₂ materials possessed a small crystalline size, high surface area, and mesoporous structure. UV-Vis DRS showed enhanced absorption in the visible region as a function of the Cr(III) concentration. The Cr(III)-doped TiO₂ catalyst with 0.04 wt% of Cr(III) was more active than bare TiO₂ for the degradation of MCPA under both UV and visible light. The intermediates identified during MCPA degradation were 4-chloro-2-methylphenol (CMP), 2-(4-hydroxy-2-methylphenoxy) acetic acid (HMPA), and 2-hydroxybuta-1,3-diene-1,4-diyl-bis (oxy)dimethanol (HBDM); the formation of these intermediates depended on the radiation source.

The synthesis and characterization of ytterbium-doped TiO2 hollow spheres with enhanced visible-light photocatalytic activity

SEM images of Melamine-formaldehyde polymer microspheres (MF) (a) and Yb-doped TiO₂ hollow spheres (Yb-TiO₂HS) (b).

Simultaneous removal of Cr(VI) and 4-chlorophenol through photocatalysis by a novel anatase/titanate nanosheet composite: Synergetic promotion effect and autosynchronous doping

Clean-up of wastewaters with coexisting heavy metals and organic contaminants is a huge issue worldwide. In this study, a novel anatase/titanate nanosheet composite material (labeled as TNS) synthesized through a one-step hydrothermal reaction was demonstrated to achieve the goal of simultaneous removal of Cr(VI) and 4-cholophenol (4-CP) from water. TEM and XRD analyses indicated the TNS was a nano-composite of anatase and titanate, with anatase acting as the primary photocatalysis center and titanate as the main adsorption site. Enhanced photocatalytic removal of co-existent Cr(VI) and 4-CP was observed in binary systems, with apparent rate constants (k1) for photocatalytic reactions of Cr(VI) and 4-CP about 3.1 and 2.6 times of that for single systems. In addition, over 99% of Cr(VI) and 4-CP was removed within 120min through photocatalysis by TNS at pH 7 in the binary system. Mechanisms for enhanced photocatalytic efficiency in the binary system are identified as: (1) a synergetic effect on the photo-reduction of Cr(VI) and photo-oxidation of 4-CP due to efficient separation of electron-hole pairs, and (2) autosynchronous doping because of reduced Cr(III) adsorption onto TNS. Furthermore, TNS could be efficiently reused after a simple acid-base treatment.

Cr(3+) substituted spinel ferrite nanoparticles with high coercivity

The low coercivity of spinel ferrites is a major barrier that significantly limits their use in high density magnetic recording applications. By controlling the substituting content of Cr(3+), in this article we describe how magnetic CoCr x Fe2-x O4 (0 < x < 1.2) nanoparticles with coercivity of up to 6.4 kOe were successfully obtained by the hydrothermal process. The high coercivity is attributed to the synergetic effects of magnetocrystalline anisotropy and the nanoscale size effect. X-ray diffraction analysis confirmed the spinel structure of the nanoparticles with transmission electron microscopy (TEM) suggesting regular tetragonal morphology. The TEM indicated an edge length ranging from 15 nm to 150 nm, which increases monotonically with increasing Cr content. Raman analyses supported the proposed model on the formation mechanism of the nanoparticles, i.e. heterogeneous and homogeneous nucleation.

Enhanced hydrogen production by carbon-doped TiO2 decorated with reduced graphene oxide (rGO) under visible light irradiation

Carbon doped TiO₂ anchored to reduced graphene oxide formed a hybrid nanocomposite (C-TiO₂/rGO) that exhibited greater photocatalytic activity and stability.

Synergy of photocatalysis and adsorption for simultaneous removal of Cr(VI) and Cr(III) with TiO₂ and titanate nanotubes

An one-step efficient simultaneous removal of Cr(VI) and Cr(III) was achieved with mixture of TiO₂ and titanate nanotubes (TNTs). Unlike the conventional two-step Cr removal with a first photocatalytic reduction of Cr(VI) and a subsequent adsorption of Cr(III), the proposed single process significantly reduced reaction time (over 50%). The synergy of photocatalysis and adsorption played an important role in enhancing Cr removal process. The synergetic mechanism was interpreted and indirectly confirmed with H₂O₂ variation during photocatalysis. The instant transfer of the reduced Cr from TiO₂ surface to TNTs interlayer greatly promoted the release of photocatalytic sites of TiO₂, which in turn considerably enhanced photocatalytic activity of TNTs by inhibiting electron-hole pairs recombination. The optimum condition for the whole process was at pH 5. Adsorption of Cr(III) was primarily in the interlayer of TNTs at pH ≤ 5. However, higher pH would lead to precipitation of Cr(OH)₃ onto TNTs as observed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Addition of Ca(2+) could promoted photocatalysis owing to its ionic bridging function and form of ≡TiOH(+)-Cr(VI)-Ca(2+)-Cr(VI) linkages, while SO₄(2-) only slightly inhibited photo-reduction of Cr(VI), indicating good synergy of photocatalysis and adsorption even at high ionic strength of electrolyte. Besides, the desorbed TNTs could be easily regenerated by remedying the damaged tubular structure and reused for Cr removal with excellent performance. The outstanding synergetic effects with essential explanation of the mechanism make this study not only fundamentally important but also potentially practical applicable.

Graphene-SnO2 composites for highly efficient photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue under sunlight

Graphene sheets decorated with SnO(2) nanoparticles (RGO-SnO(2)) were prepared via a redox reaction between graphene oxide (GO) and SnCl(2). Graphene oxide (GO) was reduced to graphene (RGO) and Sn(2+) was oxidized to SnO(2) during the redox reaction, leading to a homogeneous distribution of SnO(2) nanoparticles on RGO sheets. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images show uniform distribution of the nanoparticles on the RGO surface and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) shows an average particle size of 3-5 nm. The RGO-SnO(2) composite showed an enhanced photocatalytic degradation activity for the organic dye methylene blue under sunlight compared to bare SnO(2) nanoparticles. This result leads us to believe that the RGO-SnO(2) composite could be used in catalytic photodegradation of other organic dyes.

The effect of anatase crystal morphology on the photocatalytic conversion of NO by TiO2-based nanomaterials

Hydrogen titanate nanotubes (H-TTNT) were synthesized by the alkali hydrothermal method followed by proton exchange and then submitted either to thermal treatment or to acid hydrothermal reaction to generate TiO2-anatase nanocrystals of different morphologies. The samples were characterized by XRPD, TGA, sulfur analysis, N2 physisorption, UV-Vis spectroscopy and TEM. Their photocatalytic activities were determined by measuring the NO conversion in inert gas stream passed through the powder catalyst bed under UV radiation. Incomplete transformation into anatase resulted in nanomaterials with low activity due to coexistence with H-TTNT or TiO2-B precursors. Anatase specimens derived from H-TTNT aged in strong sulfuric acid media contained equidimensional nanoparticles, but retention of sulfate negatively affected their photocatalytic activity. Combining milder acidic pH with higher aging temperature, allowed synthesis of a sulfate free anatase with the same optical properties and specific surface area as the counterpart produced by calcination of H-TTNT at 550°C; however, the former exhibited truncated bi-pyramid nanocrystals and the other adopted the form of nanorods. This latter showed the highest photocatalytic activity for NO abatement, outperforming the benchmark photocatatyst TiO2-P25; this improved activity was tentatively ascribed to the maximization of high energy {001} facets in anatase nanorods formed during calcination of H-TTNT.

Synthesis of natural cellulose-templated TiO2/Ag nanosponge composites and photocatalytic properties

In this paper, TiO(2)/Ag sponge-like nanostructure composites have been prepared by the surface sol-gel method with the template of natural cellulose, which is relatively simple, low-cost, and environmentally friendly. The Ag nanoparticles are deposited on the TiO(2) nanosponges through UV irradiation photoreduction of silver nitrate solutions. The physicochemical properties of as-prepared composites are characterized by XRD, BET, SEM, TEM, XPS and UV-vis DRS techniques. The UV-light photocatalytic activities of the composites are evaluated through the photodegradation of two model organic molecules including RhB and salicylic acid. The experimental results show that the photocatalytic activities of TiO(2)/Ag nanosponge composites are superior to that of P25, pure TiO(2) nanoparticle aggregates synthesized by the hydrothermal method and pure TiO(2) nanosponge. The superior activities of TiO(2)/Ag nanosponge composite photocatalysts can be attributed to the unique nanosponge morphology, uniform dispersion of Ag nanoparticles, and strong interaction between Ag and TiO(2) nanosponges.

An Overview on the Photocatalytic Activity of Nano-Doped-TiO2 in the Degradation of Organic Pollutants

This paper aims to review and summarize the recent works on the photocatalytic degradation of various organic pollutants in the presence of nano-doped-TiO2 photocatalysts. In this regard, three main aspects are examined: (a) the presence of various dopants (metal dopants, nonmetal dopants, halogen dopants, metalloid dopants, and codopants) in the formation of nano-doped-TiO2 photocatalysts, (b) the effect of the presence of dopants on the photocatalytic degradation of organic pollutants, and (c) the effects of various operating parameters on the photocatalytic degradation of organic pollutants in the presence of nano-doped-TiO2 photocatalysts. Reports resulted suggest that the formation of a high percentage of the anatase phase, small crystallite size, and high specific surface area of the nano-doped-TiO2 photocatalysts depends on the presence of various dopants in the photocatalysts. The majority of the dopants have the potential to improve the photocatalytic efficiency of nano-doped-TiO2 in the degradation of organic pollutants. The photocatalytic degradation of organic compounds depends on the calcination temperature of the prepared doped TiO2, initial reactant concentration, dosage of doped TiO2, and dopant doping concentration.